Recording-key.



G. P. KETTERINGr RECORDING KEY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG), 1909.

fatented'0dt22, 1912.

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C HABLES F. KETTERING, OF DAYTON, OHIO. I

RECORDING-KEY.

f Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1912.

Application filed August 9, 1909. Serial No. 511,912.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. KETTER- we, a citizen of the United-States, residing atDaytomin the county of Montgomery and,- State of Ohio, have invented certain new" and useful Improvements in Recording- Keys, of which the following is a full, clear,

- and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in recording keys, and has among its objects to provide a key which has a recording mechanism attached thereto for making a record Within the key itself such as willshow the various operations of the .key and Wlll make a distinctive record for each the key. 1

Heretofore it has been suggested to have recording locks into which various keys are inserted, a record being made on recording mechanism attached to the locking mechanism 'so, as to leave a permanent record of just which keys have been inserted into the lock and the lock operated.

In my improvements, however, the recording mechanism is contained within the key itself and furnishes a plurality of different characterizing in'dicia for the various locks into'which this particular key is inserted.

As an example of the field of utility of such a device, a reference may be made to letter-box. systems, where letter carriers are provided with a key suitable for unlocking a plurality of different boxes. In order to make a permanent record' demonstrating that the carrier has made his proper route from box to box and has included all of the boxes within his route, my present improvements make it possible to secure such a permanent record within the key itself as to show just what boxes have been unlocked by the carrier with this single key, and likewise the exact order of visiting the cliiierent boxes.

With this general description. of the nature of the invention, and with the above stated and other incidental objects in view,

my invention consists in certain novel con-- structions and arrangements, a preferred form of embodiment of which is shown in the attached drawing.

On said drawing, Figure 1 shows asectional view through the recording barrel of 51;: key; Fig. 2 shows a vertical sectipnal w through the center of the key and the look into which the key is inserted; Fig. 3

detail view of the recordingketxip separate use of of paper on which the permanent record is made; and Fig. 4 shows a top view, partly sectionalized, of the part shown in Fig. 2

In said drawings 10 represents the barrel of an. ordinary lock such as of the Yale lock type, into which the key is to be inserted.

The recording key comprises the regular key portion 11, to which is attached the record ing mechanism contained within a casing 12.

The key portion 11 is bored out longitudinally from one end to the other to form an interior bore 13. Within this bore is fitted a plunger 14 adapted to, slide longitudinally in the bore and normally spring-pressedto ward the outer end of the key by means of the spring 15. The inner end of this plunger has mounted thereon a pin or stylus 16, or other suitable marking device which projects upward to engage the recording paper or tape 17, shown in Fig. 3. This recording strip is wound between two spools 20 and 21, 20 being the feed spool and 21 'the supply spool. These spools are suitably journaled in the aforesaid casing 12 and the paper is led from the supply roll 21 to the feed roll 20 across the path of the pin 16, as shown in Fig. 1, suitable guide pins 22 being utilized to hold the paper close to'the casing on each side of the pin 16.

The feed roll 20 has attachedto its outer bearing a ratchet wheel 30 which is exposed so as to be operated by a feed pin 31 project ing from the stationary portion of the frame 32, within which the lock is seated. The supply spool 21 has at its outerend a ratchet wheel 38 engaged by retaining pawl 34, these parts acting in a well known manner'to prevent retrograde movement of the spool. The

operation of this paper feeding device Will be presently explained.

The pin 16 may be of such material as will cause a mark on the undersurface of the paper when the pin is moved by the plunger.

14, but any other marking means may be used. Preferably I coat the paper strip 17 with a hardened carbon coating such that the movement of the sharp pin 16 over the surface of the paper will scratch the carbon and leave marks thereon; but'for conven ience I will assume that'the pin 16 is in itself a-marking device which will produce marks onthepaper similar to what: is shown in Fig. 3 and in the manner to be presently described. I

In order to operate the aforesaid-plunger 14, the interior portion of the lock is provided with a stationary rod40 projecting horizontally into the interior of the lock and so positioned as to enter the said bore 13 of the key whenv the key is inserted into the look. It is thus apparent that when the key portion 11 is inserted into the lock, the rod 40 engages the' plunger. 14 and forces the same back against its spring tension' and-thereby moves the stylus 16 backward in the casing so as to make a mark on the paper extending transversely part way. across the strip,'as shown at 41 in Fig. 3. Then when the key is turned in the lock, the key is in such position pushed far enough inward as to cause the feed pin 31 to engage the feed ratchet 30 (in Figs. 2 and-4 the parts are, for the sake of clearness, shown slightly separated and not completely'thrust home). \Vhen the feed pin and feed ratchet are thus in engagement, the turning of the key part way in the barrel of the lock will rotate thl feed spool QO'and thereby feed the paper a slight distance longitudinally, thus causing the stylus 16 to make a horizontal or longitudinal mark 42 on the paper strip 17. After the key is rotated back to normal position, and then retracted, the stylus will make a second transverse mark 43 arallel to the mark 41 and spaced a short istance therefrom.

In using this as a recording system fora series of difi'erent locks with-a common key for unlocking all of said locks, the plurality ohlocks are each provided with the aforesaid operating rods 40, but these rods are of varying length, :being of different length tor each look. For example, after the key has been inserted in the one mark and has made marks 41, 42 and 43 on the paper strip 17, as shown in Fig. 3, the next lock may have a longer operating rod 40, so that the stylus 16 begins to trace over the previous line 43, but then extends farther to make the longer line 44, followed by the cross line 45, and then the return line 46, as the key is retracted.

The paper strip 17 may be calibrated or divided up into spaces, as shown in Fig. 3, marked with numerals or otheruievice to show just which lock the difierent rectangular charactersporrespond to it. Thus if the numerals from 1 to 5 are used, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the first rectangular character 41, 42, 43, as already explained, represents lock No. 2'. The next character to the left represents lock No. 4, the next No. 5, the next No. 1', the next No. 3, and the next No. 4. The'displaced position of the stylus 16 for some one of these locks is shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2 to illustrate how the plunger and stylus are forced inward to cause the transverse marktem of a series of diflerent locks with a comcording mechanism for recording plurality of different characterizlng indicia mon key, these improvements provide a retherein a tor the various looks into which the key is nserted.

Various forms of such characterizing in dicia or the mechanism for producing them may be employed, and various forms of keys with the means for actuatin the recording mechanism from the indivi ual locks, may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

In. one of the particular uses above referredto, wherein thesc-improven'ients may be utilized to advantage, namely in the case of letter carriers having a common ke to unlock a plurality of letter boxes, it wi the soon that the recording mechanism may be inclosed within the casing free from interference or tampering on the part of a carr ier, and if the carrier has made his proper round of the letter boxes, his supervisor is then able to inspect the recording tape and cetermine exactly. what boxes were visited by the letter carrier and in what order. Of course the operating rods 40 are likewise concealed out of the way of the person using the key, and the necessity of first pressing the plunger 14 inward and then turning the key to effect the proper length of feed, minimizes the possibility of manipulation of the device, because the identifying rectan ular markings contained on the tape shou d be of perfectly definite sizes and proportions.

Having thus described my invention, what -I claim is as follows: I

1. A recording key comprishig a key portion and am attachcdrecord 2g mechanism in combination with a. lock, a! mechanism recording therein particular characterizing index for tha particular lock into which the key is inserted.

2,. A recording key comprising a key portion in. combination with a lock, and a recording mechanism attached tosaid key port'ion and actuated by the operation of the. latter, said recording mechanism being constructed to record a certain characterizing index for the particular lock into which the key is inserted.

3. The combination with a recording key comprising a key portion and a recording mechanism attached thereto including a recording element movable to a pluralityof different positions; of a series of locks operable by the common key, each of said locks containing an operating element for moving said recording element, and said operating elements being distinctively constructed for each of said series of locks to produce correspondingly distinctive recordations by the recording element.

4.- The combination 'th 0. key, of a recording mechanism attac ed thereto, including a markingdevice'foi' marking a record strip; a series of locks operable by the common key; and an operating element formed in each lock and positioned to engage and operate the marking device when the key is inserted into the lock, said operating ele-' ments each being constructed in distinctive operative forms for actuating the marking device differently for each lock and thereby producing in the recording mechanism a plurality of characterizing indicia for the series of locks.

5. Thecombination with a key, of a recording mechanism attached thereto including a. marking device for marking a record strip; a series of locks operable by the common key; an operating element in each lock for actuating the marking device, said elements have distinctive sha ms for actuating the marking device di erentially; and means for feeding the record strip as an accompaniment to the movement of key in the lock.

6. The combination with a key, ofa recording mechanism attached thereto including a marking device for marking a record strip; said marking device having an extension projecting into the interior of said key; a series of locks operable by the common key; and an operating element in each lock for projecting into the interior of said key and engaging said extension to actuate said marking device, said elements having distinctive shapes for actuating the marking device difl erentially. Y

7. The combination with a key, of a recording mechanism attached thereto including a marking device for marking a record strip; said marking device having an extension projecting into the interior of said key; a series of locks operable by the common key; and an operating element n each lock for projecting into the interior of said key and engaging said extension to actuate said marking device, said elements having distinctive shapes for actuating the marking device differentially, and means for feeding the record strip as an acconjipaniment to the movement of key in the lock.

8. The combination with a key having a longitudinal bore therein, of a casing attached thereto containing a marking device for marking a record strip; a plunger carrying said marking device and extending into said bore; a lock operable by the key; and an operating rod contained in said lock in position to enter the bore of the key and engage said plunger and operate the mark ing device different extents of movement according to the length of the operating rod.

9. The combination with a key having a longitudinal bore therein, of a casin attached thereto containing marking evicc for marking arecord strip; a plunger carrying said marking device .and extending into said bore; a lock operable by the key; and an operating rod contained in said lock in position to enter the bore of the keyand. engage said plunger and operate the marking device different extents of movement according to the length of the operating rod;

and means for feeding said record strip by the movement of the key in the lock.

10. The combination with a key "having a,

longitudinal bore therein, of a casing at;

taclied thereto containing a marking device;

for marking a record strip; a plunger carrying said marking device and e tending into said bore; a lock operable by the key;

means for feeding the strip automatically when the key is turned in the lock whereby to deflect the line of marking at that point.

11. The combination with a key having a longitudinal bore therein, of a casing at tached thereto containing a marking dQvice for marking a record strip; a plunger carrying said marking device and extending into said bore; a lock operable by the key; an operating rod contained in said lock in position to enter said bore in the key and engage said plunger to move the marking device transversely across the 'record strip when the key is inserted into the lock; supply and feeding spools for carrying the rec 0rd strip; a feeding ratchet connected with the feedingspool; and a pin adjacent to the face of the lock for engaging the feeding ratchet when the key is thrust home into the lock and actuatin the ratchet by the revoluble movement- 0 v the key, whereby to feed the paper and deflect the marking at that point.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. KET'IERING. Witnesses:

,Cims. D. Bnonson, 'J. B. HAYWARD. 

